Cuba plans to lift penalty on changing dollars

HAVANA (AP) — Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez says the country will do away with a 10 percent penalty on dollars exchanged at banks and money-exchange centers in Cuba if new U.S. measures allowing Cuba access to the international banking system prove to work.

The measure would make it much easier for U.S. visitors to Cuba to change dollars during their trip.

Rodriguez told reporters Thursday that Cuba will try to make a series of international financial transactions in coming days. If they work, it will get rid of the 10 percent penalty.